Bihar runs on the saying "लातों के भूत बातों से नहीं मानते". The same saying is applied for भूत and भगवान्। So there is absolutely no problem going after a journalist.
To everyone's surprise, a Bihari getting beaten up has turned into big news. For most hapless Biharis that get beaten up by fellow Biharis (and non Biharis), this is good news. Democracy and human dignity are making it's way into Bihar after all these years. Probably still not enough to pass the mantle of lawlessness to another state, but it is a start.